ABBEY ROAD

This is an absolutely delightful album. It doesn't have the absolute strength of songs that some Beatles albums have, but it is a real pleasure to listen to it, and also includes a fair bit of (proto) Proginess.

'Come Together' mixes psychedelia and tinges of hard rock to become a great hippy anthem. 'Soemthing' contrasts the high energy of the previous track by focusing on soft, beautiful melodies. 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' is an amusing song about a... silver hammer! 'Oh Darling' is an average Beatles song (which is to say very good). 'Octopus's Garden' is a great, underated song courtesy of Ringo who is normally the memeber I respect least. 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' is a masterpiece. The end is a brilliant repetitive riff, and I can hear the influence it must have had on bands such as diverse as System of a Down and Dream Theater. 'Here Comes the Sun' is another average song. 'Beacause' recalls the beauty of 'Something'. Then begins the epic medley:

'You Never Give Me Your Money' is a great song, and the longest section of the medley, being the socond longest song on this album. It's very good, and a highlight of the epic. 'Sun King', 'Mean Mr. Mustard', 'Polythene Pam' and 'She Came In Through The Bathroom Window' all continue in the same vein, introducing a series of interesting characters. 'Golden Slumbers' is a beautiful lullaby style piece. 'Carry That Weight' is another highlight including a reprise of 'You Never Give Me Your Money'. 'The End' closes the epic in a surprisingly proggy two minutes which is some of my favourite material by the Fab Four. Then there is another track on the end called 'Her Majesty' which is interesting, if not unecessary.

This album is pretty essential, and I like all of it, and love most of it. It isn't quite a masterpiece as there are a few uninteresting moments, especially in the first half. Very well deserving of four stars.